From Nueva Ecija to Four Fashion Capitals, Sofhia Flores Credits ‘One Person Believing in You’

LOS ANGELES — Sofhia Flores came to Los Angeles with a résumé most models spend a career chasing. The Filipino model and content creator from San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, says the road has run through the runways of New York, Milan, Paris and now Los Angeles, and that it all started with a single designer.

In a written questionnaire, Flores introduced herself in the two sentences she wanted quoted:

“I’m Sofhia Flores, a Filipino model and content creator from San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, proud of my roots and passionate about using fashion and my platform to inspire others. From chasing a childhood dream to walking the runways of New York, Milan, Paris and now Los Angeles, I hope to represent my Filipino heritage with pride while encouraging others to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams.”

— Sofhia Flores, in a Nightlife Report questionnaire

The week runway fame got argued about

Flores’ story lands in a week when the industry is arguing over who gets the spotlight. At Victoria’s Secret’s Oct. 18 show in Los Angeles, the $50 million Fantasy Bra went to Kylie Jenner, a first-time show model, and USA Today reports that fans weren’t thrilled the piece historically worn by longtime Angels went to Jenner. On Wall Street the show played as a win: MediaPost, citing Barron’s, reports the stock rose about 4% after the event, with Barclays analysts calling it proof the brand is “returning to the core heritage.”

Nothing in Flores’ answers ties her to that show. But those answers speak to the same argument from the other end of the business, where a career can start with one designer instead of a follower count.

The discovery

Asked what moment set the path, Flores pointed to one designer:

“Modeling has always been my passion and my dream growing up. Everything began when a designer discovered me and gave me the opportunity to walk for her, and from that moment on, the rest is history. That opportunity opened the door to a journey I had dreamed of since childhood, and it continues to remind me that sometimes all it takes is one person believing in you to change your life.”

— Sofhia Flores

Bureau Fashion Week, beyond the runway

Runway photos Flores submitted to Nightlife Report show the Toshimi Pacumbala backdrop. (Our coverage of that collection: the Toshimi Pacumbala gallery and looks and credits.) Flores called The Bureau one of the best production experiences Flores has had, and said the people made it:

“Bureau Fashion Week was one of the best production experiences I’ve had! Beyond the runway, what made it truly special was reconnecting with my model friends, meeting new people, and building meaningful connections with other creatives in the industry. The entire experience reminded me that fashion week is not just about the shows, but also about the community, the relationships, and the memories we create along the way.”

— Sofhia Flores

What the industry gets wrong

Flores pushed back on the idea that modeling and influencing are only the glamorous part people see:

“I think people sometimes see the glamorous side of modeling and influencing without realizing how much work, discipline, and resilience happen behind the scenes. There’s so much more to this industry than photos and appearances, it takes confidence, patience, rejection, and the courage to keep showing up even when things don’t go as planned. I’ve learned that true success is not just about how you look but also about who you are and how you make others feel.”

— Sofhia Flores

What’s next

Flores said the goal is the same one that started it all:

“I’m working toward the dream I’ve had since I was a little girl and I’m excited to see how far I can take it. I want to keep growing as a model, travel to new places, work with amazing designers, and share more of my journey with the people who have been supporting me. Being able to walk at New York, Milan and Paris Fashion Week is something younger me would have never imagined happening, and I want to keep making her proud.”

— Sofhia Flores

“I also hope to use my platform to inspire other girls, especially Filipinas, to believe in themselves and go after what they want, even when the journey isn’t always easy. You can follow along with me on Instagram at @sofhiafloress!”

— Sofhia Flores

More from our Bureau Fashion Week interview series: Mirka Howard on her first LA walk.

Discuss this on the forum

Does one person believing in you really change a career, or does the industry still make models wait to be discovered? Discuss this on the forum.

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